BISHOP #1 – From the Present to Now

Creative Team – Saladin Ahmed, Mario Santoro, Federico Blee, VC’s Travis Lanham, Davide Paratore

Published by Marvel Comics

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The Story

This review is brought to you by Nerd Initiative’s Megan and Shawn!

Shawn – This was an interesting first issue of Bishop. I really like the character of Bishop, so I’m excited to see him getting a new limited series. Saladin Ahmed does a good job introducing people to Bishop in this issue. If you don’t know much about Bishop or really only know him from X-Men animated shows, Ahmed spends some dedicated time at the beginning of this issue getting you up to speed on who he is and what he’s about.

The story starts a little slow, but really hits its stride about halfway through this issue. The premise of this story that Ahmed is crafting seems to be a pretty interesting one, involving the future in a way only a Bishop story could. Bishop #1 shows us a look at what’s awaiting a man not quite of this world, unwelcome in his, looking for a mooring post in a post-Krakoa world.

Megan – Bishop #1 starts as what can only be described as a banger for this series. Saladin Ahmed creates a first issue that’s so authentic to the character, highlighting his past traumas and showcasing where his headspace is now.

In Bishop #1, Lucas Bishop is still dealing with the trauma of losing his sister, Shard, by his own mistake. Feeding her incorrect intel is what caused him to lose the only family he had, and that haunts him. Sleep-deprived, working himself to the bone, and running from his past is a full-time job. On top of that, he’s still an X-Man at heart, so he does what he can to keep people safe.

With everything in his life building and building, he doesn’t realize that he’s been watched. There is a plan to take him out, and this plan has been established for years. His weaknesses and strengths have been well documented, making it nearly impossible for him to make it out of this attack alive. That is, until the source of his trauma, the most important person of his past, comes through a portal to save his life.

The Art

Shawn – Mario Santoro, Federico Blee, and Travis Lanham did a phenomenal job out of the gate on this issue. Santoro does a really good job, though the art immediately makes Sheepshead Bay recognizable to anyone who has ever seen the area. That is no easy feat. Bishop’s look is crisp and clean. Santoro captures the facial expressions of the characters in this issue perfectly.

Federico Blee uses the colors to set the tone and hue of this story right from the first panel. The lighting and color on this issue were phenomenal. As a lot of this story takes place at night, it can be easy to overestimate the use of shade, but Blee finds just the right amount. The darkness feels at times haunting, like a character itself. Travis Lanham does a masterful job in helping introduce new readers to Bishop through carefully controlling the distinction between Bishop’s monologuing and his in-world interactions.

Megan – Mario Santoro, Federico Blee, and Travis Lanham made Bishop #1 an absolutely stunning issue that has all the factors of the classic Bishop. Bishop is drawn in a way that his emotions are worn on his sleeve. Even down to the way he stands, you can see someone who’s been through more than anyone else, and he’s still traumatized by his past. Along with that, his mutant powers are on full display. With the help of Federico Blee, his vibrant powersets light up the page, making it a gorgeous focal point. The artists made Bishop feel larger than life in the comic, which made the comic feel powerful and impactful. Travis Lanham nails the dialogue, making you feel every bit of Bishop’s emotions. Whether it’s the internal dialogue or his outer dialogue, the tones of the story are on full display.

Final Thoughts

Shawn – 9/10. Overall, this was a satisfying start to the series. It feels like Bishop has some real potential. The art team is on point, and the first issue built to a satisfying climax that has me interested in checking out the next issue.

Megan – 10/10. Bishop is one of my favorite mutants, and I am so grateful for how his character was handled. The creative team made something powerful, something Lucas Bishop fans will truly love. I can’t wait to see what the next issue holds for us!

Overall Grade – 9.5/10

Let us know in the comments what you thought of Bishop #1!